Freely installable cooker

ABSTRACT

A freely installable cooker includes a first functional module for treatment of food products;
         a support structure of said functional module comprising:   a lower base;   a containment structure that extends vertically from the base and including two opposing side walls and a bottom wall which extends between the two side walls; said side walls comprising guide means of insertion and extraction of said first functional module; and   connection means of said base and said containing structure comprising: engagement means and housing means of said engagement means; said engagement means and said housing means being afforded where one is in said base and the other is in said support structure; the connection between said engagement means and said housing means occurring at least at the junction zones of the two side walls with the base and at a junction zone of the bottom wall and said base.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a freely installable cooker and a method for its realization.

STATE OF THE ART

Freely installable cookers are known wherein various household electrical appliances are assembled in a support structure, each in a specific housing afforded inside said structure. For example, for realization of a predetermined freely installable cooker, a predetermined cooker hob and a predetermined oven are added to a given structure.

A disadvantage of said construction solution is linked to the limited possibility of customising a specific product. This leads to considerable costs, since numerous assembly lines must be developed to diversify production in order to satisfy the product differences demanded by the market.

Aim of the Invention

In this context, the technical task underpinning the present invention is to provide a freely installable cooker which allows a high level of customization to be obtained while reducing production costs to a minimum. A further object of the present invention is allowing a user to intervene on a cooker already purchased in order to adapt it to changed needs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The technical task set and the objects specified are substantially attained by a freely installable cooker comprising the technical characteristics as set out in one or more of the accompanying claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following indicative, and hence non-limiting, description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a freely installable cooker as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 4 show a portion of the cooker according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show components to be used on the cooker according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 show a cooker according to the present invention partially assembled and in different configurations;

FIGS. 9, 10, 11 show a side view of FIGS. 6, 7, 8;

FIGS. 12, 13 show a cooker according to the present invention partially assembled and in different configurations;

FIG. 14 shows a different viewpoint to the one shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a view from above of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 shows a base (in an assembled configuration and in a partially larger-scale view) of the cooker according to the present invention;

FIG. 17 shows a base (in an assembled configuration and in a partially larger-scale view) of the cooker according to the present invention;

FIGS. 18 and 19 show a plan view and a perspective view of a cooker according to the present invention, partially assembled;

FIG. 20 shows different cookers according to the present invention;

FIG. 21 shows a larger-scale view of the cooker according to the present invention;

FIG. 22 shows a detail of FIG. 21;

FIGS. 23 and 24 show a component of FIG. 21 in two different positions, said figures being shown considering an opposite viewpoint with respect to the one of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 shows a detail of FIG. 21 in an assembled configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the accompanying drawings, the reference number 1 indicates a freely installable cooker. “Freely installable cooker” means an independent structure which allows cooking of food products. It is to be considered an alternative to integrated recessed cookers developing continuously on equipped walls. Said freely installable cooker 1 comprises:

-   -   a first functional module 5 for treatment of dishes or food         products;     -   a support structure 2 of said functional module;

The structure 2 comprises a lower base 80. The support structure 2 further comprises a containment structure 90 which extends between the top and the bottom, distancing itself from the lower base 80. The containment structure 90 comprises two side walls 871, 872 and a bottom wall 870 which extends between two side walls 871, 872.

Said bottom wall 870 also extends between the top and the bottom. In particular, the containment structure 90 extends vertically in a distancing direction from the lower base 80.

The opposing side walls 871, 872 comprise guide means 91 of insertion and extraction of said first functional module 5. Opportunely, the guide means 91 comprise a first and a second guide 210, 220. The first and second guides 210, 220 extend along said two opposing side walls 871,872 of the containment structure 90.

At least the first guide 210 comprises an inner channel 211 open at one end. The first functional module 5 comprises a protrusion 50 which, in a configuration of connection to the support structure 2, is inserted in said inner channel 211.

The guide means 91 could be additional elements applied with attachment means to the remaining parts of the opposing side walls 871, 872. In an alternative embodiment, the guide means 91 could be integrated into the side walls 871,872 (and not be separable). The side walls 871, 872 may comprise a sandwich structure. In this case, the side walls 871, 872 could comprise an outer covering 912, an inner covering 911 and interposed thermal insulation. In this case, the inner covering 911 defines the guide means 91. Typically, the inner and outer covering 911, 912 are a metal material.

Advantageously, the support structure 2 comprises connection means 92 of said lower base 80 and said containment structure 90. The connection means 92 comprise: engagement means 93 and housing means 94 of said engagement means 93. The engagement means 93 and said housing means 94 are disposed such that one is in said lower base 80 and the other is in said containment structure 90. The connection between said engagement means 93 and said housing means 94 occurs at least at junction zones 95 of the two side walls 871, 872 with the lower base 80 and at the junction zone 95 of the bottom wall 870 and said lower base 80.

Advantageously, the engagement means 93 comprise elastic deformation means 96 attachable in said housing means 94. Typically, said connection means 92 comprise deformable tabs.

The freely installable cooker 1 comprises activation means 98 of functioning of said first functional module 5. The activation means 98 are advantageously afforded at said bottom wall 870 (or in any case in a zone behind the freely installable cooker 1). The activation means 98 may be activated manually in a first configuration, in which there is correct connection of said first functional module 5 and said containment structure 90 (or more generally of the support structure 2). In a particular embodiment, the activation means 98 may comprise a selector 980. Said selector 980 only in said first configuration (i.e. when there is correct connection and positioning of the first functional module 5) allows the user to activate or deactivate the functioning of the first functional module 5. Alternatively (non-preferred embodiment), said selector 980 could be activated directly by the correct connection of said first functional module 5 and said containment structure 90.

The activation means 98 assume a second configuration in which they prevent activation for functioning of the first functional module 5; opportunely, the passage from the second to the first configuration is determined by a mechanical thrusting action dictated by reaching of an end of stroke of the first functional module 5 (preferably along the guide means 91) and manual activation of said selector 980.

In said first configuration, the activation means 98 therefore come into contact with said first functional module 5. Opportunely, the first functional module 5 comprises an interface 801 destined to couple with said selector 980.

The activation means 98 therefore define a switch which, in the first configuration, is activated by the selector 980.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 21-24, the activation means 98 (particularly the selector 980) comprise a knob 99. The selector 980 may assume a first position in which it prevents power supply of the first functional module 5. The selector 980 may assume a second position in which power supply of the first functional module 5 is permitted. The activation means 98 comprise a tab 991 which, in a blocking position, prevents rotation of the knob 99 from the first to the second position. The tab 991 may also assume an activation configuration in which it allows rotation of the selector 980 from the first to the second position. The second position of the selector 980 is assumed in said first configuration, i.e. when there is a correct connection and positioning of the first functional module 5. In fact, the first functional module 5 which has reached the end of stroke into said first configuration determines a movement of the tab 991 allowing rotation of the knob 99. The selector 980 comprises a stem 992 to which the knob 99 is solidly joined. The stem 992 in turn comprises at least a first and a second electrical contact 993, 994. Opportunely, the first and the second electrical contact 993, 994 are elastic. In the second position of the selector 980, the first contact 993 places in electrical communication said stem 992 and a power source 995 afforded on the support structure 2. In the second position of the selector 980 the second contact 994 places in electrical communication said stem 992 and said first functional module 5.

Opportunely, the interface 801 of the first functional module 5 which interacts with the selector 980 comprises electrical wires 802 powered by said second electrical contact 994 and which allow power supply of the first functional module 5.

In this way, in the second position of the selector 980, electrical power supply of the first functional module 5 is permitted through the stem 992.

Advantageously, the stem 992 comprises an element (for example a fin 996) which, in the second position of the selector 980, interacts with a corresponding component 997 (which defines a housing 803) afforded in said first functional module 5 to prevent extraction of the first functional module 5. Opportunely, the freely installable cooker 1 comprises a pin 998 which engages in a counter-shaped housing 803 afforded on the first functional module 5. Opportunely, the pin 998 is solidly joined to a housing 999 of the selector 980. In said housing 999, said tab 991 is also advantageously housed. In this way, the first functional module 5 may rotate with respect to the support structure 2, which is solidly joined to the housing 803 of the tab 991.

The bottom wall 870 comprises:

-   -   a frame 873 which delimits an opening;     -   infill material 874 which closes the opening, said activation         means 98 being applied to said infill material 874.

The freely installable cooker 1 comprises a groove 89 which extends at the junction zones 95 of the two side walls 871, 872 with the lower base 80 and at the junction zone 95 of the bottom wall 870 and said lower base 80. The groove 89 is defined at least by:

-   -   a first side 891 in which are afforded housing means 94;     -   a second side 892, the engagement means 93 being insertable         between the first and the second side 891, 892 (and coming into         contact with the first and the second side 891, 892).

Opportunely, the first functional module 5 is a first cooking module (and therefore used for cooking the food). Said first functional module 5 is removable with respect to the support structure 2. Opportunely, the first cooking module 5 is interchangeable (and replaceable with other functional modules). It is positionable in a first housing 20 of the support structure 2.

Opportunely, the freely installable cooker 1 comprises a resting surface 3 accessible from above.

The freely installable cooker 1 comprises a front wall 31 which extends between the top and the bottom of the freely installable cooker 1. Typically, the front wall 31 is an opposite wall to a rear wall which is destined to face a wall of the compartment in which the freely installable cooker 1 is positioned.

The first housing 20 may be afforded on said resting surface 3 (see, for example, FIGS. 6, 7, 8). This case occurs especially when the first cooking module 5 is a cooker hob. Opportunely, the first cooking module 5 could be an induction, grill, steam cooker hob, Tappan Yaki, or Wok.

In an alternative solution, the first housing 20 could however be positioned beneath the resting surface 3 (see FIG. 12, 13, 14 in which the resting surface 3 is omitted). In that case, the front wall 31 is defined at least partly by a door of said first functional module 5. Also in this case, the first functional module 5 is a cooking module and, in particular, an oven.

The freely installable cooker 1 could also comprise both the first cooking module 5 and a functional additional module 51 positioned beneath the resting surface 3. The functional additional module 51 is removable, interchangeable and housed in the support structure 2 (see FIG. 20). Said functional additional module 51 could be an oven or another household electrical appliance (for example, a dishwasher or a device for refrigerating food products).Opportunely, beneath the resting surface 3 a plurality of functional additional modules 51 could be present. Preferably, the functional additional modules 51 are different household electrical appliances. They could be alongside each other horizontally or stacked. For each functional additional module 51, what is described here could be repeated with reference to the first functional module 5.

Reference is now made to a possible embodiment shown in FIG. 6, 7, 8, wherein the first cooking module 5 is:

-   -   positionable on the resting surface 3;     -   mobile between a first and a second position.

In the first position (see FIG. 7), the first functional module 5 is substantially horizontal. In the second position (see FIG. 8), the first functional module 5 is tilted upwards with respect to the first position. Opportunely, said tilting is by means of a first hinge 40. This assists cleaning of the resting surface 3.

The freely installable cooker 1 comprises electrical supply means 4 of the first cooking module 5. In the construction embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-11, the electrical supply means 4 comprise a first connector 41 rotatable solidly joined to said first hinge 40. Also in the embodiment of FIGS. 6-11, the electrical supply means 4 comprise a second connector 42 solidly joined to the first cooking module 5. The first and second connectors 41, 42 may remain connected both in the first and in the second position. Advantageously, the freely installable cooker 1 comprises a switch of the electrical supply means 4. Said switch acts to prevent functioning of said first cooking module 5 when it is in the second position. The switch may be mechanically activated, for example by a mechanical abutment with which the switch comes into contact during passage from the first to the second position. Alternatively, the switch could be controlled gyroscopically.

The object of the present invention is also a system comprising:

-   -   a freely installable cooker 1 having one or more of the         characteristics described above;     -   a second cooking module, the first cooking module 5 being         replaceable with the second module.

The first and second cooking modules could belong to a different type of cooking points (for example, one could be an induction cooker hob and the other a steam cooker hob).

It could also be that the second model is an article washing module. In that case, the first module (to be replaced) is opportunely, but not necessarily, an oven (and is positioned beneath the resting surface 3).

An object of the present invention is also a method of realising a freely installable cooker 1 comprising the steps of:

-   -   realising a support structure 2 forming part of the freely         installable cooker 1 and comprising a first housing 20;     -   choosing a predetermined cooking module 5 from a group of         separate, interchangeable cooking modules positionable in said         first housing 20 and connectible to the support structure 2;     -   connecting said predetermined cooking module 5 to said support         structure 2.

Opportunely, the step of choosing the predetermined cooking module 5 occurs during assembly. The method could, however, provide the step of the final user replacing said predetermined cooking module 5 with another cooking module or more generally with another functional module.

Refer now to FIGS. 16 and 17. Preferably, the lower base 80 is an assembly of several panels. Said plurality of panels are coplanar. The lower base 80 has a modular structure in order to reach the desired dimensions.

The modular structure of the lower base 80 comprises a plurality of panels in turn comprising:

-   -   a first panel 81;     -   a second panel 82.

The first and second panels 81, 82 contribute to defining a shared bottom surface 85.

Opportunely, said plurality of panels may comprise a third panel 83 interposed between the first and second panels 81, 82. The third panel 83 contributes to defining said shared bottom surface 85. In this way, the third panel 83 allows the lower base 80 to be elongated with respect to a situation in which only the first and the second panels 81, 82 are present.

For similar considerations, said plurality of panels may comprise a fourth panel adjacent to the third panel 83 and interposed between the first and the second panels 81, 82. The fourth panel contributes to defining the shared bottom surface 85.

The freely installable cooker 1 further comprises connection means 86 of two adjacent panels of the modular structure. The two adjacent panels may be chosen from said plurality of panels. The connection means 86 are afforded in a single piece with said two panels.

The connection means of the two adjacent modules have a male-female type connection. Opportunely, the connection means 86 of the two adjacent modules comprise a plurality of inserts 861 which engage in corresponding housings 862. Opportunely, the inserts 861 engage in the housings 862 by means of elastic deformation. Advantageously, the two adjacent modules alternate an insert and a housing forming part respectively of said plurality of inserts and said plurality of housings.

The lower base 80 is quadrilateral. The support structure 2 comprises a groove 89 which surrounds the lower base 80 on three sides and in which are engaged the two side walls 871,872 and the bottom wall 870.

The third panel 83 of the support structure 2 comprises a first side 831 adjacent to a first edge 811 of the first panel; the connection means 86 are afforded at least along the first edge 811 and the first side 831.

In the preferred embodiment, the first panel 81 and/or the second panel 82 and/or the third panel 83 and/or the fourth panel are in plastic material. The freely installable cooker 1 could also comprise further panels. Preferably, all the panels of the lower base 80 extend in a row one with the other along a straight line. Opportunely, the first panel 81 extends in a single piece. Opportunely, this could be repeated for the second panel 82 and/or the third panel 83 and/or the fourth panel.

Opportunely, the present invention further comprises a method of realization of a lower base 80 of a freely installable cooker 1. Opportunely, said freely installable cooker 1 has one or more of the characteristics described above. The method further comprises the step of connecting a plurality of modular elements of different shapes and dimensions in order to obtain a lower base 80 having pre-established dimensions.

The present invention has numerous advantages. In particular, it allows the realization of a plurality of basic components (the support structure and the functional modules) which may then be assembled in various ways to allow the desired customization of the freely installable cooker 1. In this way, it is possible to choose the desired arrangement of the electrical household appliances in a support structure 2 (and also to choose which type of electrical household appliances to insert in the support structure 2). The invention as conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept characterised thereby. Furthermore all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to requirements. 

1. Freely installable cooker comprising: i) a first functional module for treatment of at least one of dishes and food products; ii) a support structure of said first functional module; characterized in that said support structure comprises: a lower base; a containment structure which extends vertically from the lower base and includes two opposing side walls and a bottom wall defined between the two opposing side walls; said opposing side walls including a guide means of insertion and extraction of said first functional module; and reciprocal connection means of said lower base and said containment structure including: engagement means and housing means of said engagement means; one of said engagement means and said housing means being afforded in said base and the other of said engagement means and said housing means in said containment structure; a connection between said engagement means and said housing means occurring at least at junction zones of the two side walls with the lower base and in a junction zone of the bottom wall and said lower base.
 2. The freely installable cooker of claim 1, characterized in that the engagement means includes elastic deformation means attachable in the housing means.
 3. The freely installable cooker of claim 1, further comprising: activation means for controlling said first functional module, said activation means being disposed on the bottom wall and being activatable in a first configuration wherein the first functional module is correctly connected with the containment structure.
 4. The freely installable cooker of claim 3, characterized in that the activation means defines a second configuration wherein the activation means prevents activation of the first functional module; the first configuration occurring on reaching a limit stop of the first functional module along the guide means.
 5. The freely installable cooker of claim 3, characterized in that said activation means includes a knob which is adapted to assume a first position wherein the knob prevents power from being supplied to the first module, and a second position wherein power is selectively supplied to the first module; the activation means comprising a tab which, in a blocking formation, prevents rotation of the knob from the first position to the second position and, in an activation formation, allows rotation of the knob from the first position to the second position; the second position of the knob being assumed in said first formation when the first module reaches limit stop and moves the tab from the blocking formation to the activation formation, allowing rotation of the knob; the knob being solidly joined to a stem which in turn includes at least first and second contacts; in the second position of the knob the first contact defines an electrical communication between said stem and a power supply source afforded on the structure, and the second contact defines an electrical communication between said stem and said first module.
 6. The freely installable cooker of claim 3, characterized in that the bottom wall includes: a frame defining an opening; and infill material which closes the opening, said activation means being applied to said infill material; said infill material including said activation means.
 7. The freely installable cooker of claim 1, further comprising: a groove defined at the junction zones of the two opposing side walls with the base and at the junction zone of the bottom wall and said lower base; said groove being defined at least by: a first side in which said housing means are disposed; and a second side, the engagement means being insertable between the first and the second sides.
 8. The freely installable cooker of claim 1, characterized in that the guide means are additional elements applied with attachment means to remaining parts of the two side walls.
 9. The freely installable cooker of claim 1, characterized in that the guide means are integrated into the two side walls.
 10. The freely installable cooker of claim 9, characterized in that the side walls include a sandwich structure that includes: outer cladding; inner cladding; and interposed thermal insulation; the inner cladding defining the guide means. 